Bob the Builder wrote:I've no idea why they didn't enclude a 78 RPM speed.
Probably the same reason why most turntables made after 1970 don't have 78 RPM settings.
The biggest problem that most have overlooked so far in this thread (perhaps due to many being raised on CDs) is that not all turntables are created equally. The sound quality ranges between an average turntable, a good turntable, a great turntable, and an audiophile turntable are all MUCH greater than the difference between even an average CD player and an audiophile CD player.
The composition of the needle (diamond, saphire, nylon, etc.), the quality of the needle, the age of the needle, the quality and age of the needle housing, the wiring, the tone arm weight, the tone arm resistance to moving side to side, the angle of the tone arm, the smoothness of the turntable motor, the reliability and consistency of the turntable motor's speed, the electrical interference (or lack thereof) from the motor, and other factors all greatly affect the quality of sound you get off a record album. Some needles can penetrate scratches, dust, and other record imperfections better than others. Other needles can't penetrate dust or scratches that well, but still produce even better sound on a perfect record album because of their increased sensitivity.
None of those factors really come into play that much on a CD player. That was one of the big reasons why CDs took over the market even though records actually reproduce better, more accurate sound than a CD when you use top of the line equipment. The convenience of using digital files that could be read virtually the same by almost any laser eliminated all the variables required to make records sound good.
Thus, the biggest concern shouldn't be the convenience of connecting the turntable to the computer via USB ports or what have you, it should be on getting the best quality turntable possible and plugging it into ordinary, shielded RCA plugs on a good-quality sound card that takes it into the computer for conversion. The software from there is usually for correcting deficiencies in the source; but if you use a better turntable, you will get a better source and won't need to alter or tinker with it as much.
Indeed, I would almost presume that USB turntables will not provide you with the best source sound for converting record albums to digital formats. They seem to be designed for convenience, not quality.